Object Description
Original vintage poster for the 1948 London Olympic Games held from 29 July to 14 August, the first Games held after World War Two. Iconic design by Walter Herz (b 1909) featuring the Ancient Greek statue of Discobolus of Myron, the discus thrower, in front of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben with the hands on the clock showing 4:00, the official opening time of the Games, with the five coloured Olympic Rings and dates below. The 1948 London Olympics took place in an atmosphere of “make do and mend” after the war with food rationing still in place; after the 12 year gap, the event was an important symbolic gesture of a return to normality. The original Discobolus statue was completed in 460-450BC; an early Roman copy was bought for the British Museum in 1805. Lithograph printed by McCorquodale & Co. Ltd., London. Good condition, restored paper losses on edges, restored tears, staining, restored folds, backed on linen.